Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Business Innovators Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founder interview: Poetry Pharmacy - Book seller & producer of 'poetry pills' • UK | Turning a creative passion into a business | Debora Alma | 20 Apr 2026 | 00:22:53 | |
In this episode, we speak to Deb Alma, the founder of the Poetry Pharmacy. Her business runs bookshops and it's pioneering a new model of selling poetry by prescribing it based on emotional needs. It's an innovative approach that many have fallen in love with, including the multi-millionaire founder of the cosmetics brand Lush. He became Deb's business mentor and encouraged her to expand. Deb was in her 40s when she first began dispensing poetry from her vintage ambulance and in her 50s when she opened her first shop. In the interview, Deb discusses her colourful and creative journey in entrepreneurship. She summarises the key essential elements her as business approach that have brought her success as:
A detailed breakdown of what's covered in the show is provided below. 1:51 — The origin story Who should listen to this episode? Are you looking to turn a creative passion into a business? Are you looking for information on how to run a bookshop? Are you looking for information on how to start a business in your forties or in your fifties? Are you looking for information of how to build a community around your business? Are you looking for information on business mentorship? Are you looking for information on how to grow a values-driven team? If so, this episode is relevant for you. Resources mentioned:
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| Founder interview: Rubber Republic - Communications Studio • UK | Realigning a business with your values | Matt Golding | 29 Mar 2026 | 00:29:27 | |
In this episode, we speak to Matt Golding, co-founder and head of the Communications Studio Rubber Republic. The agency was started in 2001. It made a name for itself by creating fun, irreverent content that generated millions of views for some of the world's biggest brands. In 2019, the company pivoted to working exclusively for organizations that generate positive impact. The episode is particularly relevant for listeners looking to realign their businesses with their values, implement flat management structures, and communicate in a way that connects. In the conversation we explore the essential elements of the company's approach that have brought its success. Matt Golding summarises the three key essential elements of the company's success as:
A detailed breakdown of what's covered in the show is provided below. Guest: Matt Golding, co-founder and head of Rubber Republic. Host: Eilidh Wagstaff 1:08 - Introduction - overview of Rubber Republic 1:42 - Origin Story — Starting the business at university with two friends; DIY ethic, teaching themselves animation, games, and film on a Mac G3 2:36 - Getting Noticed — Early political satire, playful content, and people in the media reaching out 3:18 - The "Say Yes to Everything" Model — Accepting jobs they didn't know how to do, learning on the fly, and delivering under pressure 4:30 - Building the Business — Incorporating, bringing on a financial director, learning business fundamentals with gentle mentorship 6:35 - Branching Out — Political satire campaigns, getting on national TV, promoting voting among young people, working with Paramount Films 9:05 - Recruiting & Culture — Early hiring mistakes; learning to communicate values rather than micromanage; empowering people 10:09 - Growing & Separating the Businesses — Cross-subsidizing divisions, then separating them for investment and professionalisation 11:33 - Questioning Business Norms — learning where traditional business rules help and where they don't 12:28 - The Tax Conversation — Realising advisors were automatically minimizing tax 14:11 - Taking Over Rubber Republic — Running it independently; the challenge of losing co-founder balance 15:10 - The "10x the Price" Decision — Choosing to charge 10x more instead of doing 10x more work; mapping out what quality actually costs 16:37 - Pricing Strategy in Action — Landing major brands like Disney and eBay 18:50 - The Pivot to Impact — 2019 shift to working exclusively with positive-impact organizations; buying out shareholders 20:58 - Running as a Not-for-Profit — Operating lean, scaling impact not finances, bringing people together on projects 22:01 - Questioning Growth — Why bigger doesn't always mean more impact; flexible business models 23:06 - The Antidote Project & Podcast — "Screw This, Let's Try Something Else"; telling stories of community-led change across energy, food, homes, and decision-making 24:30 - Empowering Communities — Helping people at community level build the world they want; partnership with Immediate Media 26:36 - Three Key Principles — Openness, Resilience, Creativity Resources mentioned:
Company website: https://www.rubberrepublic.com/about/ Show support:
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Thank you for listening to Business Innovators. Stay tuned for more stories and strategies to help you grow your company. | |||
| Founder interview: Bow Arts - Arts Provider • UK | Turning existing business models inside-out | Marcel Baettig | 15 Feb 2026 | 00:30:44 | |
In this episode of Business Innovators, we profile Bow Arts, speaking to its founder and CEO Marcel Baettig. The organisation was started in the 1990s to provide affordable studio space for artists. It has grown to become one of the UK's largest providers of creative workspaces. Bow Arts is noteworthy for reinventing the business model for providing studio space. Marcel says when he was a sculptor looking for a studio, he couldn't find options that worked. Business models for renting studio space at that point were designed around "property, not artists." Bow Arts set about turning the traditional model inside out. It pioneered what it called the "holistic model" (though Marcel disliked this description for being too hippyish!). The idea was to put artists, rather than property, at the centre of the business model for providing studio space. The 'holistic model' looked at the needs artists have (for income to provide food and shelter, space to produce work, development of skills, etc.) and works to meet them. Pursuing the 'holistic model', Bow Arts expanded from providing affordable studio space to offering a whole range of support services for artists. It now provides everything from affordable accommodation to skills and training development to support for artists in marketing their work. In the interview, Marcel Baettig identifies two essential elements of Bow Arts' approach that have brought it success: 1) Forming partnerships 2) Reinvesting 3) Being a service provider, not seeking to be the centre. A detailed breakdown of what's covered in the show is provided below. 1:07 - About Bow Arts Today
2:10 - Origin Story
4:41 - Finding the Space
6:33 - Rapid Growth
8:08 - Innovative Studio Design
8:47 - "Inside-Out" Model
10:02 - Charity vs. Business Model
12:11 - Social Enterprise Approach
13:52 - Gallery, Café & Learning Programs
15:42 - Artist Career Acceleration
16:49 - Housing Partnerships Begin
18:35 - Creative Guardians Scheme
21:33 - Community Impact
22:24 - Lessons Learned
23:37 - Path to Property Ownership
25:00 - First Purchase
27:19 - Growing Property Portfolio
28:00 - Financial Legacy
28:55 - Key Success Principles
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| Business profile: Amul - Dairy Co-operative • India | Harnessing people power | Featuring Marketing Professor Dr. K. Suresh | 14 Feb 2026 | 00:15:25 | |
Show Notes: Business Innovators Podcast: Amul Episode Overview: In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, better known as Amul. From starting out as a small-scale movement led by a small band of farmers to becoming a global dairy powerhouse, Amul's story is one of innovation, resilience, and the power of cooperation. Dr K Suresh, Associate Professor in the marketing faculty at Anurag University in India, shares his expert opinion on the cooperative's marketing strategy. He zooms in on some of the dynamic ways it responded to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Key Topics Covered: 1:25 - PART ONE: Delivering Value 1:28 - Founding story and mission
1:50 - Business model: Balancing farmer and customer value 2:24 - Dr. Suresh on Amul's value philosophy
3:11 - Product diversification strategy
3:38 - COVID-19 response: New product launches
4:56 - Investing in people development
6:02 - Infrastructure and community development
6:33 - PART TWO: Investing in Marketing 6:42 - Brand name origin
7:02 - Advertising campaign history 7:12 - Dr. Suresh on the 50-year advertising campaign
8:33 - Marketing adaptation during COVID-19
10:33 - Feature film strategy (1970s)
11:28 - PART THREE: Fostering Collaboration 11:34 - Democratic structure and values
12:10 - Social mission and government support
12:34 - Overcoming opposition and smear campaigns
12:59 - Scaling through collaboration
13:20 - Partnership strategy
14:14 - Episode recap and closing Episode sources I Too Had a Dream by Verghese Kurien and Salvi Gouri Amul's India : Based on 50 Years of Amul Advertising by Dacuncha Communication by Santosh Desai and the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. Links & Resources:
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| Founder interview: Wiggly Wigglers - Garden Supplies Company • UK | Harnessing difference | Heather Gorringe | 30 Jan 2026 | 00:30:59 | |
Wiggly Wigglers Episode Overview: In this episode, we profile Wiggly Wigglers, a UK-based company specialising in bird food, natural gardening supplies, and composting products. Founded by Heather Gorringe in the 1990s, the company has grown through a combination of passion, persistence, and smart marketing. Heather shares the story of building her business, offering practical insights and engaging anecdotes along the way. She discusses how to access specialised expertise without the burden of extensive people management, leverage Google Ads effectively, secure valuable free publicity through media relations, and build authentic customer connections on social media. Heather distils her successful business approach into three 'essential elements': 1) Care about what you're selling 2) Persevere and be resilient 3) Adopt new technologies Key Topics Covered 0:00 - Introduction 1:19 - Early Business Beginnings 2:55 - Starting Wiggly Wigglers 4:54 - Naming the Business & Early Funding 7:55 - Building Awareness Through PR 8:24 - Turning a crisis into an opportunity 11:29 - Manufacturing & Staffing Challenges 12:59 - Finding the Right Team Model 15:52 - Running Multiple Businesses 17:57 - The Regenerative Agriculture Turning Point 19:56 - Social Media & Marketing Strategy 23:57 - Duchy of Cornwall Focus Farm Programme 26:22 - Regenerative Farming Results 28:39 - Keys to Business Success 30:11 - Future Plans Books and videos mentioned by the founder:
Quotes from Heather Gorringe: "It's fine to be different because that difference can be a driver for your business." " You can have a great life with your own business because it enables you to do exactly what you want to do." Company links Show support:
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